In its striking curtain wall of glass and modernist steel columns, Gordon Bunshaft’s International-style design for the Lever House — cocreated with Natalie de Blois — garnered widespread acclaim. The Pritzker Prize-winner was a legendary American architect, and his influence can be found today in city skylines all over the world.
Bunshaft studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before undertaking fellowships in Europe and North Africa. In 1937, he joined New York City architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill where he worked until his retirement in 1979.
Bunshaft shared the same interest in modernist furniture as Florence Knoll, an architect and furniture designer who had a subtle but profound influence on the course of mid-century American modernism and who helped make Knoll Inc. a leading firm in its field. Bunshaft recommended that Knoll be placed in charge of interiors when, while at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he designed the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company’s headquarters in the mid-1950s.
Bunshaft’s projects drew heavily on the pioneering architectural work of Le Corbusier as well as Mies van der Rohe, an iconic furniture designer and fellow proponent of modernist architecture.
Celebrated architectural marvels created by Bunshaft include the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library for Yale University and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Research Building for the University of Texas. Completed in 1974, Bunshaft designed the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and finished the National Commercial Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1983. The National Commercial Bank was his last project.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Gordon Bunshaft case pieces and other furniture.
1960s Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for SOM Ottoman / Bench 30x42x17
By Davis Allen, Gordon Bunshaft
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an ottoman, originally designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Davis Allen for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). This particular example was produced in the 1960s. Skidmore, Owin...
Steel
$1,404
H 14.57 in Dm 16.15 in
Franco Albini Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Round Ottoman Stool, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous mid-century round bamboo & wicker stool. Franco Albini designed this piece in Italy during the 1960s. The pouf features a beautiful combination of curved bamboo, rattan a...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wicker
Large Chesterfield Leather Tufted Ottoman, 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A generously sized rectangular ottoman upholstered in rich brown tufted leather. Designed in the 1960s, Exuding classic Chesterfield sophistication with a modern versatility. Brass n...
Leather
Panache for Michael Taylor Cut Velvet Upholstered Bench Ottoman
By Michael Taylor
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Panache for Michael Taylor Cut Velvet Upholstered Bench Ottoman
Wood
$7,009 / set
H 25.99 in W 35.44 in D 32.29 in
Mushroom Armchair and Ottoman by Pierre Paulin for Artifort, 1960s
By Artifort, Pierre Paulin
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Stunning Mushroom set, designed by Pierre Paulin and fabricated by Artifort in the 60s. This very comfortable and cosy set is just covered with beautiful and the highest quality ...
Fabric
$20,947 / set
H 35.44 in W 38.19 in D 38.19 in
Set of Two beige Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman for Knoll, USA, 1960s
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of two Early Eero Saarinen womb chairs and ottoman for Knoll, USA - 1960s. Newly upholstered in a Knoll fabric. The measurements giv...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Round Sunburst Ottoman, 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century modern round ottoman manufactured in the United States, circa 1960s. This sculptural piece captures the playful enlightenment of mid-century design through its distinctiv...
Fabric, Walnut
Leather Ottoman by Ingmar Relling for Westnofa, Norway, 1960s
By Ingmar Relling
Located in Praha, CZ
Mid-century modern Norwegian ottoman designed by Ingmar Relling and produced by Westnofa in the 1960s. The piece features a beautifully patinated brown leather cushion resting on an ...
Leather, Wood, Beech, Plywood
$1,860Sale Price|40% Off
H 15.75 in W 25 in D 15.5 in
Walker Weed & Gordon Keeler Iron Woven Leather Ottoman Stool Bench 1950s MCM
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Designed by Gordon Keeler and Walker Weed. A very understated and angular welded iron rod contoured footstool. Rather wide and heavy, without a right ang...
Iron
Davis Allen Square Chair and Ottoman by McGuire
By Davis Allen, McGuire
Located in Highland, IN
This strikingly handsome Davis Allen design for McGuire of San Fransisco is the model RW-12A "Square Chair" and RW-51P ottoman. It is a cube chair executed in rattan and cane wicker ...
Upholstery, Cane, Rattan
$9,520
H 17.72 in W 19.69 in D 23.23 in
Storage Ottoman, Celina Decorações, 1960s, Brazilian Midcentury
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
Produced in the 1960s by Celina Decorações, this storage unit consists of a plywood box with Rosewood veneers, with a fabric cushion on top, that transforms it into an ottoman. Foun...
Rosewood, Fabric
Vintage 1960s Danish Rosewood & Mohair Velvet Ottomans
Located in London, England
Spottrup Mobler - Upholstered Stools, c1960 A pair of classic stools produced by Spottrup Mobler in The frames are made from exquisite rosewood that has been refinished by our team ...
Rosewood
$7,800 / set
H 32.5 in W 31 in D 28.5 in
Don Shoemaker Sling "Swinger" Chair and Ottoman, Mexico 1960s
By Don S. Shoemaker
Located in Camden, ME
A Classic 20th century chair and ottoman from one of the great craftsman's workshops of Mexico: Senal, S.A., Don Shoemaker's tropical paradise in Michoacan, Mexico. This iconic chai...
Leather, Cocobolo